Celebrate the Craft Council of BC’s 40th anniversary with a series of events

— Photo Martin Lipman.

Columbia Basin residents are invited to participate in the Columbia Basin Craft Symposium to be held October 25 to 27 in Nelson. This event will focus on the professional development of contemporary craft artists with a variety of workshops, discussions and presentations by some of the most influential artists in the field of arts and crafts today.

This weekend long symposium will touch upon many aspects that contemporary craft faces today: creativity, sustainability, globalization, technology, and business issues such as marketing, pricing and social media. The symposium is an opportunity for Columbia Basin residents who are in a creative field to learn, share and get feedback from artists across the country who are visionaries in their respective fields. There is also an opportunity to sign up for individual portfolio reviews and to have your work photographed by a professional photographer.

The keynote speaker will be Greg Payce: artist, potter, and winner of the 2013 Saidye Bronfman Award (Canada’s foremost distinction for excellence in the fine crafts). Greg has been making ceramics for over 35 years. He has exhibited and given numerous lectures, workshops, and presentations on his practice, both in Canada and internationally. 

The West Kootenay Regional Arts Council is partnering with the Kootenay Gallery, Castlegar Arts Council, and the Kootenay Lake Arts and Heritage Council to offer a series of community events, shows and workshops. The Kootenay Gallery will kick off the celebration with the show:  Invested: 10,000 Hours — an exhibition of contemporary craft. On display will be various craft media by Columbia Basin artists. At the Langham Gallery, local artist Geraldine Rinkel will be offering a two day workshop: Draped Clay tray — create and explore on two separate Saturdays — October 5 and 19 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. On October 19th from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Kootenay Gallery in Castlegar, Olivia Mansveld will take you through her process of turning recycled frames, materials, and objects into an “objet d’art” using collage, stitching, and assemblage in her workshop Framing with Fabric.

The Columbia Basin Craft Symposium is generously supported by: The Hume Hotel, The Best Western Nelson, BC Wine Guys, Big Cranium and The Nelson Brewing Company.

Registration will open in early October and space is limited. Travel subsidies will be available for the weekend event of October 25 – 27 for residents of the Columbia Basin who live further away from Nelson. For more information Columbia Basin Craft Symposium or contact the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council at 250-352-2421; toll free: 1-800-850-2787.

Presented by the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council in partnership with the Province of British Columbia through Creative Communities and BC Arts Council, Columbia Basin Trust and artsVest.

For over 20 years, the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council has been actively supporting artistic development in the region. As an arts service organization, WKRAC has developed many projects which foster interest and pride in the cultural heritage of the area, including ARTiculate magazine, Kootenay Arts E-Bulletin, Kootenay Festival and Events brochure and numerous professional development opportunities for artist and arts organizations.